This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Way forward for crofting
06/03/2007
Implementation of the Crofting Reform Act will be taken forward in two stages following Royal Assent, it was announced today.
Measures to allow for the creation of new crofts, address neglect or misuse of crofts and ensure that crofters are able to take full advantage of the economic benefits of securing croft land will commence in June this year.
Further measures covering the regulatory work of the Crofters Commission and information held on the register of crofts will commence in January 2008.
Deputy Rural Development Minister Sarah Boyack said:
"Crofting plays a vital role in the economic and social fabric of rural Scotland. We are committed to securing its future well into the 21st Century.
"The Crofting Reform Act is a significant piece of legislation.
"It will allow the creation of new crofts for the first time in a century, ensure that existing croft land is properly used, extend crofting tenure beyond the crofting counties and ensure that crofting communities who acquire their land will secure the economic benefits that come with ownership.
"Now that the Bill has received Royal Assent we will move quickly to ensure that existing crofters and those who wish to take up crofting can benefit from this new legislation."
The Crofting Reform etc. Act received Royal Assent on March 1, 2007.
Scottish Ministers have agreed to commence the provisions in the Act in two stages, June 2007 and January 2008.
The first Commencement Order will commence:
- The provisions on the creation of new crofts and new common grazings
- The provisions dealing with neglect and misuse of crofts
- Legal provisions relating to the status of crofts which should reduce opportunities for expensive litigation
- Changes to resumption, decrofting and apportionment provisions of the 1993 Act
- Provisions relating to schemes for development necessary to facilitate wind farm development on Shetland
- The amendments to the Land Reform (Scotland) Act dealing with interposed leases
- The provisions affecting the Scottish Land Court
The second Commencement Order would include all the other provisions of the Act. The main provisions affected are:
- Those setting out a new procedural framework for the regulatory work of the Commission; and
- The provisions covering the information held on the Register of Crofts